Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 66

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1000

USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 66
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 66
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 66
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 66

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During his boyhood Mr. Ellis remained upon the home farm with his parents, and he neglected his own education to give his sister advantages. He began his business career as a school teacher, later following surveying for many years, for a time was engaged in mercantile business in Union Dale, and was also an undertaker and manufac- turer of furniture for a few years. He operated a saw and gristmill at that place, and at the time of his death was engaged in merchandising there, while he also served as postmaster, having filled that office for a quarter of a century.

At Carbondale, Penn., on March 26, 1857, MIr. Ellis married Miss Ann E. Lewis, a native of Her- rick township, Susquehanna county, and a daugh- ter of James and Maria ( Toby) Lewis, of New York State. Her paternal grandparents, John and Jane Lewis, were lifelong residents of New York, and her maternal grandparents, Taber and Esther Toby, spent their entire lives as farming people in Otsego county, N. Y. As his mother was poor, and had a large family to support, James Lewis, the father of Mrs. Ellis, started out in life for him- self at the age of twelve years, that he might be of some assistance to her, as he was the eldest of the family. He came to Herrick township, work- ing in the gristmill of his uncle, David Lewis. until he attained his majority, and then followed farming throughout the remainder of his life. In political sentiment he was a Democrat. He died in Septem- ber, 1884. at the age of eighty-four years and nine- teen days, and his wife died in March, 1888, at the age of eiglity-four years, both being laid to rest in Union Dale cemetery. They had four children, namely: Jane, now the widow of Philip Ricks, of New York State: Taber J., a farmier and carpen- ter of Benton, Lackawanna Co., Penn. ; Horace H.,

a merchant, farmer and justice of the peace of Uniondale ; and Ann E., widow of our subject.

Mr. Ellis always took a very active and pronti- nent part in public affairs, and his influence was given to every enterprise which he believed would prove of public good. For many years he was an elder and trustee of the Presbyterian Church, servnig as presiding elder from 1864 to 1878, and his life was in perfect harmony with his professions. His hos- pitable liome was always open to ministers of the Gospel, and he gave liberally to all Church, educa- tional and benevolent enterprises, the worthy poor finding him indeed a friend. No deserving ones were ever turned away empty-handed from his door. He was the first burgess of Union Dale, and was again filling that office at the time of his death. In 1881 he was elected to the House of Representa- tives, and most creditably filled that position for one term. In political sentiment he was a Republican, very active in his party, and was an able speaker. During his younger years Mr. Ellis was a member of the I. O. O. F. He was emphatically self-made, and proved himself a very capable business man.

WILLIAM C. DEAKIN. The prosperity of any community depends upon its business activity, and the enterprise manifest in commercial circles is the foundation upon which is builded the material welfare of town, State and nation. The most im- portant factors in public life at the present day are therefore men who are in control of successful busi- ness interests, and such a one is Mr. Deakin, who in partnership with his brother now owns and con- ducts the largest and best meat market in Susque- hanna.

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Mr. Deakin was born in New Milford, Penn., in November, 1850, a son of John H. and Emaline (Stanford ) Deakin. The father was born in Lon- don, England, in June, 1817, and when only two years old was brought to this country by his parents. Thomas and Esther Deakin, also natives of Lon- don, who settled on a farm in Silver Lake town- ship, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where the father died four years later. There were only two chil- dren in their family; John H., the father of our subject : and Clarinda, who married Garwood Mitch- ell. of Bridgewater township, and died in Frank- lin township, Susquehanna county, leaving a fam- ily ( Amanda, one of her daughters married Newel Bailey, of Liberty).

After the death of his father John H. Deakin was placed in the home of a Mr. Hillard. of Silver Lake township, where he grew to manhood, and was educated in the district schools. He married Miss Emaline Stanford, who was born in Liberty township, Susquehanna county, in January, 1823. a daughter of Dr. Stanford, formerly of Connecti- cut, and they began housekeeping upon a farm in Franklin township, after a short time spent there removing to New Milford, where he engaged in the butcher business. When the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western railroad was built. from Seran-

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ton to Delaware Water Gap, he followed in the wake of the constructors, carrying on the butcher business, and in 1860 he opened a market in Sus- quehanna. He enjoyed a good trade there until failing health caused his retirement from the busi- ness, when he purchased a farm in Franklin town- ship, on which he lived for a few years. Later he was again engaged in butchering in Susquehanna .but his last days were spent with his son, Henry J., at whose home he died in 1892, highly respected by all who knew him. Soon after attaining his ma- jority he returned to England on a visit to his birth- place and remained a year in that country, and again in 1886, in company with our subject, he visited his native land. They crossed the ocean in the steam- er "Wyoming," and had a very enjoyable time. The mother is still living, and makes her home with her daughter, Mirs. L. E. Stanford. The children of this worthy couple were as follows: ( 1) Jane, born in Franklin township, is the wifc. of L. E. Stanford, of Liberty. (2) Henry J., born in the same township, in 1846, received a district- school education, and is now engaged in farm- ing in Franklin township. He married Julia Ei- dridge, of that township, and they have three chil- dren, James, Arthur and Bertha. (3) William C., our subject, is next in the order of birth. (4) C. W., born in Liberty township, in 1858, married Eva Brown, of Bay City, Mich., and is now engaged in the butcher business with our subject in Susque- hanna, where besides his business property he owns a fine home. He has five children, Ray, May, Rena, George and Maud. (5) Cornelia, born in Franklin township, died at the age of eleven years.

During his boyhood William C. Deakin pur- sued his studies in the graded schools of Sus- quehanna, and when a young man he learned the butcher's trade with his father. At the age of nineteen he went to Detroit. Mich., and sailed from that port on a steamer running to Chicago. He was in the latter city at the time of the great fire which destroyed a large portion of that place, and later he was employed as a carpenter there by Mr. Leiter. After two years spent in Chicago he re- turned to Susquehanna, and as a carpenter engaged in contracting and building here for several years. In 1888, in partnership with his brother C. W., he opened a meat market, and they have succeeded in building up the largest trade of any in their line in the city, being numbered among its most enterpris- ing, progressive and prosperous business men. They own a large business block in Susquehanna. which was erected by them. In 1887 our subject purchased the Person farm, one mile west of town on the Milford road, and built thereon a fine resi- dencc, with all modern improvements, also erecting barns and a large slaugliter-house, where he does the butchering for his town trade.

In May, 1875. Mr. Deakin was united in mar- riage with Miss Eugenia Carrington, of Oakland, who was born in Delaware county, N. Y., in 1854. a daughter of J. W. and Catherine ( Warner) Car-

rington, and was educated in the higher schools of Susquehanna. Prior to her marriage she success- fully engaged in teaching school in Susquehanna county for five terms. Our subject and his wife have one son, Williani L., who was born in Susque- hanna, in 1883, and is now a student in the high school of that place. For five years after their mar- riage they lived in Great Bend, and then removed to Susquehanna, near which city they now reside on his farm.

Besides the visit to England already men- tioned, Mr. Deakin made a business trip to that country in November, 1886. Politically he is a sup- porter of the People's party, and he was a delegate from his Congressional district to the St. Louis convention in 1896. He takes a deep and commend- able. interest in public affairs, and has served as school director in his town. Religiously he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Susquehanna, of which he is one of the trustees, and fraternally he belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. His popularity has brought him to the front as an advocate of pure government. He is strongly opposed to monopolies in trade, where the few control everything. and trusts and combines mect with no favor in his judg- inent. He is a business man of considerable ability, and is well qualified to fill any position which his party may impose upon him. He enjoys an envia- ble reputation for honesty and fair dealing, and his friends are many throughout the county.

THERON L. SMITH. a representative and prominent citizen of Lawsville, Susquehanna coun- ty, was born at his present home July 19, 1842, and belongs to one of the honored pioneer families of the county, his parents being Lambert and Margaret ( Brown ) Smith. His father was born in Cheshire, Conn., in November, 1799, a son of Titus and Cla- rissa ( Tuttle) Smith. The grandfather, also a na- tive of Connecticut, came to Susquehanna county, Penn., as early as 1797, in company with five broth- ers, Ephraim, Russell, Lyman. Sylvester and Ray- mond, v;ho located in Franklin township, each pur- chasing from 100 to 200 acres of Mr. Laws, wlio owned much of the land in that section.

Titus Smith was the third son of Ephraini Smith. of Cheshire. New Haven Co .. Conn .. and was the first of the family prompted to seek a home in the wildernesss of Susquehanna county. He came to this region in a sled drawn by oxen. the best con- veyance at that time, as the roads were mere paths through the forests. After selecting a location he returned to Connecticut for his wife and child. the father of our subject. and here they began life in true pioneer style. He was a devout Presbyterian. and was elected elder of the Church at New Mil- ford, of which he was one of the founders. He was also very benevolent, giving liberally to the poor and needy, and his wife, who acted well her part in their new home, always found time to visit the sick and afflicted, speaking words of cheer and com-

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fort. Theirs was a long and happy married life, and both passed peacefully away in 1862, within a few hours of each other. In their family were sev- en children, two sons and five daughters, of whom ( 1) Lambert, the father of our subject, was the eldest. (2) Titus married Sarah Green, of Susque- hanna county, and first located in Franklin town- ship, but some years later removed to Binghamton, N. Y., where he engaged in the grocery business until he died, leaving two sons and two daughters- Fannie, wife of Charles Herrick, of Binghamton ; Cornelia ; Frank W., a resident of Franklin Hill, Susquehanna county; and Henry, who is married and lives in St. Clair, Mich. (3) Betsy, the eldest daughter of Titus Smith, Sr., married Philo Smith, and resided near Franklin Forks. (4) Phyla was the wife of John Green, of Franklin township, and both are now deceased. (5) Anna was the wife of Charles Warner, of the same township, and both are also deceased. (6) Sarah J. married William Green, of Franklin township. (7) Susan married William K. Hatch, of Franklin township.

Lambert Smith, our subject's father, was reared in Franklin township, and received a dis- trict-school education. After his marriage he cleared and improved a farm in that township, on which he made his home until about 1835, when he sold the place and moved to Lawsville, engaging in the manu- facture of potash for some years. He also pur- ehased a farm near the village, upon which he erect- ed a good residence and made many other useful and valuable improvements, and there he continued to reside until his death, in 1875. He was an active and successful business man, a pronounced Democrat in politics, and most efficiently served as postmaster of Lawsville for several years. Both he and his wife were Presbyterians in religious faith, and devoted their lives to the interests of the Church. She departed this life in June, 1875. To this worthy couple were born five children who reached years of maturity. (1) Juliette, born in Franklin township, was educated in Harford Uni- versity, and successfully engaged in teaching school in Susquehanna county prior to her marriage. She wedded John C. Trusdell, who studied law in Mont- rose, Penn., and later engaged in the practice of his chosen profession in Fond du Lac and Berlin. Wis., where they made their home. In the latter city both died, leaving three sons who are still liv- ing : Lambert S., a resident of Des Moines, Iowa ; Louis, of Savanna, Ill. ; and Harry C., of Berlin, Wis. (2) Malissa A., born in Franklin township, was educated in the higher schools of Binghamton, N. Y., and Harford, Penn., and is a most refincd and accomplished lady ; she was at one time a suc- cessful teacher in the county. As a member of the Presbyterian Church she has always taken an act- ive part in Church work. (3) Edgar, born in Frank- lin township, received a good practical education. He wedded Mary A. Smith, of Susquehanna coun- ty. and later removed to Wisconsin, where he en- gaged in business until his death. He left two chil-

dren : Dewitt, now a resident of Minnesota; and Ada, who is married and lives in Wisconsin. (4) Alonzo, born in Franklin township, grew to man- hood upon the home farm and married Hannah Kingman, a native of West Virginia. They now reside in Medina, N. Y., where he is engaged in the shoe trade. They have one son, Charles F., who is married and lives in Marquette, Michigan.

Theron L. Smith, who completes the family,; began his education in the district schools, and later attended the high school of Montrose, after which hie assisted his father in business until after the opening of the Rebellion. In 1862 he enlisted, for nine months, in Company C, 151st P. V. I., which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and was first under the command of Gen. Burnside, and later under Gen. Mead. He participated in the battle of Chancellorsville, after which he was taken ill with typhoid fever and sent to the hospital. On the expiration of his term of enlistment, he was honorably discharged at Harrisburg, Penn., in 1863, and returned home.

In 1868 Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Johnston, a daughter of Jerry and Cornelia Johnston, of Greene county, N. Y., who later became residents of Franklin township, Susquehanna Co., Penn. Mr. Smith brought his bride to the old homestead in Lawsville, where they have since resided. To them has been born one son, Louis, now a student in the home schools. Our subject has been employed as manager and clerk in a general store in Lawsville, and is at pres- ent one of the stockholders in and secretary of the Lawsville Creamery. He is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, has held the offices of collec- tor and constable of Liberty township, and is now serving his third term as justice of the peace, being first elected to that position in 1878. He is thor- oughly impartial in meting out justice, his opinions being unbiased by either fear or favor, and his fidel- ity to the trust reposed in him is above question. Socially he is a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 338, of Great Bend; of Southworth Post No. 222, G. A. R., of Lawsville; and of the Improved Or- der of Red Men at Franklin Forks. He is regarded as one of the leading and most highly respected citizens of Lawsville, and it is, therefore, consistent that he be represented in a work whose province is the portrayal of the lives of the prominent men of the county.

ARTHUR M. WILLIAMS, a leading agri- culturist of Herrick township, Susquehanna county, was born upon his present farm, April 2, 1854, a son of Mortimer and Eliza ( Rounds) Williams.

Mr. Williams is a direct descendant of Roger Williams, of historic fame, who was born in De- cember. 1599. in Wales, and was educated for the ministry, graduating from Pembroke College, Cam- bridge, England. On February 22, 1632, he ar- rived at Plymouth, Mass .. but though a minister of the Reformed Church he was banished from the

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Colony for advocating the right of each individual to worship God in his own way, and in 1636 he 1 settled-at Providence Plantation, now Providence, R. I. A history of Providence showing cuts of his old church is now in the possession of our subject. Roger Williams died in 1683. The line of descent to Arthur M. Williams is traced through his son Daniel, born in 1642, who died 1712; Joseph, who was killed in 1739, fighting with the Indians ; Benoni, born in 1716, who died in. 1782; Squire, born in 1753, who died in 1841 ; John J .. born in 1795, who died March 25, 1848; and Mortimer, father of our subject.

John J. Williams came, in 1816, with several of his sisters, from Scituate, R. I .. to Susquehanna county, Penn. Abigail married Pardon Churchill, and Bathsheba became the wife of Williams Church- ill, and they and their children were active and prominent among the best citizens of the section. Mr. Williams was a shoemaker, and followed his trade for several years, after his marriage, however, settling on the place afterward owned by his son Mortimer, where he engaged successfully in agri- cultural pursuits. On June 20, 1823. he married Esther Dimmick, daughter of Capt. Edward Dim- mick, and she survived him until 1879, passing away at the age of seventy-six years. Children as follows blessed this union: Mortimer ( who occupied the homestead). Dimmick, Edgar, Harry L. and John J. (of Schuylkill county), Rev. Benjamin F., Emel- ine (wife of D, K. "Oakley) . and Gulielma (wife of John F. Stewart).

Mortimer Williams was born March 18, 1824, in Herrick township. . . Throughout life he followed farming with good success, became quite well-to- do, and was-honored with a number of township offices which he most creditably filled, including those of auditor, clerk, assessor, supervisor and school director. He married, December 2, 1846, Eliza Rounds, a native of jackson township, and of their four children! Arthur M. is the only one now living; Edgar A. died February 1, 1864; Rosa B., January 30, 1864; and Raymond. April 9, 1870. Mortimer Williams died at the present home of our subject, February 23; 1894. aged sixty-nine years, and his wife passed away May 14, 1892, aged sixty- five years, the remains of both being interred in the Uniondale cemetery. They were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, and were highly respected by all who knew them.

Our subject was reared and educated in much .the usual mariner of farmer boys of his day, and has spent his entire life upon his present farm, en- gaged in agricultural pursuits .. The neat and thrifty appearance of fris place plainty "indicates that he thoroughly-understands his chosen calling, and he is meeting wth excellent success. His political sup- port is given to the Republican party, and he has served as school director for ten years and town- ship auditor for the past year. He, too, is a mem-

ber of the Presbyterian Church, and is held in high regard by his neighbors and friends.

In Uniondale, October 4, 1876, Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Miss Kate A. Mills, and they have three children : Rennie MI., born Janu- ary 25, 1879; Hugh T., born November 1I, 1882; and Delphine E., born October 20, 1889. Mrs. Will- iams was born in Uniondale. November 17, 1855, and is a daughter of Trevenen Mills, an extensive farmer of that place, who was born in Cornwall, England, December 18, 1827. Her paternal grand- parents, William and Ann ( Trevenen) Mills, were also natives of England, where the former died in 1830. In 1860 the grandmother came to America and made her home with her children in Wayne county, Penn., dying at the home of her son Richard, November 2, 1874. at the age of eighty-eight years and three days, and was buried in Pleasant Mount cemetery. Her children were as follows: William. born August 4, 1812, died in Pleasant Mount. March 1, 1893; Ann, born August 6, 1813, married John Bowden, and is now deceased; Catherine, born January 13, 1815, married William Giles, and is also deceased; Henry, born September 18, 1816, is a farmer in England; Betsy, born March 17, 1818, married Richard Phillips, and is now deceased ; Thomas, born February 17, 1820, died in England ; John and Mary, twins, were born October 3, 1822, and the former died in England, while the latter married R. C. Arthur, and died in Wayne county, Penn .; Richard, born July 29, 1824, is a farmer of Mt. Pleasant township, Wayne county ; Emma, born June 9, 1826, is the widow of Francis James, of Mt. Pleasant township; and Trevenen completes the family.

In Cornwall, England. Trevenen Mills grew to manhood, and was married in St. Breock parish, January 5, 1852, to Miss Sarah F. Arthur, also a native of Cornwall. born November 15, 1826, a daughter of David and Jane Arthur, who spent their entire lives as farming people in England. Mr. and Mrs. Mills had the following children: Sarah J., born July 23. 1853. is the wife of J. P. H. Raynor, teller in the Miners & Mechanics Bank of Carbon- dale, Penn .; Kate A., wife of our subject, is next in the order of birth: John T., born August 30, 1857, died December 10, 1893, married Clara E. Lewis, of Uniondale: and Emma, born June 20. 1862, is the wife of Clarence W. Pierce, a coal merchant of Ithaca. New York.

The wedding journey of Mr. and Mrs. Mills was a voyage to the United States. They located in Mt. Pleasant township. Wayne Co., Penn., where he worked for a farmer one year. and the following year rented a farin on shares. He then purchased a part of his present farm near Uniondale, paying SI,- 500 for an eighty-five-acre tract. He paid $500 down, and the remainder within nine years, before it was due. He now has a fine farm of 200 acres. He is a Republican in politics, has served as school director nine years, poormaster at intervals for

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twenty years, and has been a member of the city council since Uniondale was organized with the exception of a few years. He is an active and prominent member of the Presbyterian Church of that place, and has served as elder for several years.

BRUCE B. BUFFUM is a merchant, by edu- cation and by natural inclination. His father built up in Friendsville. Susquehanna county, a most profitable mercantile business, and his trade has been assumed and greatly enlarged by our subject, who ranks as one of the successful and active busi- ness nien of Susquehanna county.

Mr. Buffum was born in Friendsville, Decem- ber 25, 1863, son of William and Eliza J. ( Rice ) Buffum. His father was born in Apolacon town- ship, Susquehanna county, in 1829. son of Robert and Messina Buffum, who migrated to the township in an early day from Connecticut. Robert Buffum was a tax payer in old Choconut township (now Apolacon ) in 1815, and his sons David and Char.es were tax payers in Apolacon in 1847.

William Buffum had meager educational advan- tages in his youth, and was inured to toil and hard- ships incident to pioneer life. However, he attend- ed during the winter months such schools as were conducted in the locality, and it is not improbable that his mental attainments were stimulated by his marriage to Eliza Rice. She was the daughter of Ezra Rice, one of the first school teachers in For- est Lake township, who was well skilled in mathe- matics and other branches of learning, and one of the finest grammarians in the county ; he taught school in all twenty-five years, for a number of winters at his own home, there being no school houses in the vicinity. Eliza Rice, the mother of our subject, was also for a number of years a school teacher, having received a good education from her father.

Soon after his marriage, in 1853, William Buf- fum engaged in mercantile pursuits in Apolacon township in a limited way. About 1857 he removed to Friendsville, where he operated a general store up to the time of his death, in 1881. He was a man of great influence, a Democrat in politics, and a leader in the affairs of that party in Apolacon township. He held many of the local offices and was unusually popular among the people. Frater- nally he was a Free Mason. His estimable wife died at the home of her daughter, in Union, N. Y., in 1898. To William and Eliza Buffum were born six children : Helen, the eldest, died when one year old; Isabel was first married to George M. Keeler. and subsequently to J. Couglilin; they now reside in Binghamton, N. Y. William died when three years old. Bruce B., our subject, was the fourth child. George L., born in Friendsville in 1866, mar- ried Clara Brister, of Birchardville, where he en- gaged for some time in mercantile business. and he is now proprietor of a creamery at Union Center. Broome Co .. N. Y. : they have two sons-lra and Allison. Lorena, the youngest, married W. 19.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 66

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1000

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1000